Culture is fascinating! Did you know that face saving is a very important part of business and social interaction in group-oriented cultures? I was invited to attend a dinner party hosted by the President of a large Japanese company. Employee managers and their spouses were the guests. In the center of the room was a large table set for about 26 people. The President of the company drew me aside right before we were to be seated. He told me that I would be sitting to the right of his wife, (such an honor) but he wanted to warn me that she wasn’t going to be able to converse. She was, he said, nearly deaf in her right ear. I was very disappointed as I knew that she had recently become a grandmother for the first time, as did I, and I was prepared to share stories of our joy of grand parenting. As we took our places I acknowledged Mrs. Sato and smiled. Everyone at the table was talking and the conversation was lively and enjoyable, but I was very uncomfortable thinking about Mrs. Sato’s inability to hear well. Finally I decided I had to something to include her. I turned my chair a bit to face her and very clearly, at increased volume, said: “I understand you have a grandson.” From that moment on things changed. We talked all evening! Mrs. Sato was not really hard of hearing after all. She spoke very little English and I spoke NO Japanese. Her husband, anticipating that I might be uncomfortable with this situation, let me off the hook!!! He prepared to save my face and the face of his wife by excusing me from making conversation. Face saving preserves harmony among other things, and is an important cultural competence. Do you practice face-saving? Global LT’s Cultural Training Programs - Face Saving: Japan